Can you have a healthy baby with velamentous cord insertion?
Some studies suggest that babies with velamentous cord insertion are more likely to be delivered early and to require care in a neonatal intensive care unit. Also, babies may have lower scores on the Apgar, a test used to measure a baby's health at birth. Velamentous cord insertion can cause problems for mothers, too.Mar 9, 2021
Is velamentous cord insertion considered high risk?
Abnormal cord insertions are associated with increased rates of abnormal FHR tracings and Cesarean deliveries. In particular, a VCI should be deemed a high-risk pregnancy and a warning sign of a possible vasa previa.Nov 29, 2012
Does velamentous cord insertion cause stillbirth?
Although rare and less of a risk when properly monitored, velamentous insertion also increases the risk of stillbirth. 8 There are additional complications of which expecting parents should be aware too.Dec 30, 2021
Should I worry about Velamentous cord?
A velamentous cord insertion is a rare umbilical cord abnormality that may require monitoring during your pregnancy, but happily, with proper care, the chances that it will end up being problematic for your pregnancy or your baby are low.May 8, 2020
How rare is velamentous cord insertion?
Velamentous insertion occurs in approximately 1% of all pregnancies. Velamentous cord insertion is more common among multi-fetal pregnancies, and has been estimated to occur in up to 10% of twin pregnancies, with increasing incidence with increasing number of fetuses in a multifetal gestation.
Can velamentous cord insertion cause preeclampsia?
In pregnancies with anomalous cord insertion [velamentous (VCI) or marginal (MCI)] the risks of preeclampsia, abruption of the placenta, placenta previa, fetal growth restriction, preterm birth and fetal death are increased, as well as the risk of maternal complications in the third stage of labor 3, 4.Oct 3, 2016
What is velamentous cord insertion?
In a velamentous cord insertion (VCI), the umbilical blood vessels insert into the amniotic sac instead of the placenta. This type of abnormal cord insertion is less common, occurring in only .5-2.4% of pregnancies, but also more dangerous due to its connection with vasa previa.
What is marginal cord insertion?
Marginal cord insertion. About the Placenta and Umbilical Cord. Before we get into marginal and velamentous cord insertion complications, let's look at the placenta and the umbilical cord. The placenta and umbilical cord are temporary organs, delivered along with the baby at birth, which allows for the transportation and exchange ...
What is the connection between the mother and the fetus?
During pregnancy, mother and fetus are connected by the placenta and umbilical cord. This system, which runs from the interior of the uterus to the fetus' bellybutton, allows for the vital transfer of materials to and from the developing baby.
Where is the umbilical cord located?
The umbilical cord is attached to the fetus at the bellybutton and consists of two arteries and a vein surrounded by protective tissue. It embeds itself into the center of the placenta which is in turn latched onto the interior of the mother's uterus.
What happens to the baby during a vaginal birth?
In a vaginal birth, the amniotic sac ruptures and the baby moves through the cervix and out through the vagina. In a vasa previa pregnancy, fetal blood vessels rupture along with the amniotic sac, resulting in blood loss for the fetus and mother.
When is a C section scheduled?
In other cases, like with persistent velamentous insertion, the doctor will schedule a c-section at around 37 weeks of pregnancy. If for some reason an abnormal cord insertion went undetected, especially when accompanied by a condition like vasa previa, an emergency could arise during labor and delivery.
What is velamentous cord insertion?
Velamentous cord insertion is a rare abnormality with the umbilical cord. The umbilical cord usually travels from the baby directly into the middle of the placenta. With a velamentous cord insertion, the cord blood vessels branch out before the cord inserts into the placenta. As a result, for the distance between the insertion (branching) ...
What is marginal cord insertion?
Marginal cord insertion is another type of abnormal cord insertion. It means that the umbilical cord is connected on the outer side of the placenta rather than the center. Because the placenta is thinner at the edges, the umbilical cord has very little placental tissue supporting it in this location. Still, a marginal cord insertion rarely causes ...
Who is Karen Miles?
Karen Miles is a pregnancy and parenting writer and mom of four. She has authored hundreds of articles in magazines such as Parenting, Baby Talk, and Better Homes & Gardens as well as a book, The Power of Loving Discipline.
What happens when a velamentous cord is inserted?
A Velamentous Cord Insertion may cause a decrease in blood flow to the developing fetus. This can result in intrauterine growth retardation (IUGR) and other congenital abnormalities in the developing fetus. Studies have shown that 1 in 4 pregnancies end-up in spontaneous abortions, either in the 1 st or 2 nd trimester.
Where does the umbilical cord insert?
In approximately 90% of the placentas, the umbilical cord inserts normally, either into the central portion of the placental disc, or is off-centered (in an eccentric manner) In Velamentous Insertion of Umbilical Cord, the umbilical cord inserts into the membranes of the developing fetus, instead of the placental disc.
Overview
Mechanism
- In a normal gestational sac, the umbilical cord is inserted into the middle of the placenta and entirely enclosed in the amniotic sac. In a velamentous insertion, the cord inserts itself into the amniotic membrane rather than in the placenta. The baby's blood vessels then stretch along the membrane between the insertion point and the placenta.
Risks
- Velamentous cord insertion can lead to serious pregnancy complications, such as vasa previa. Vasa previa occurs when the baby's blood vessels run close to the inner part of the cervixthe tissue that separates the uterus from the vagina. Because of their location, these blood vessels are at risk of rupturing. The condition can be deadly with approxi...
Diagnosis
- Velamentous cord insertion can be diagnosed through an ultrasound. It may be difficult to see during the first trimester of pregnancy but is easier to visualize during the second trimester. If you have been diagnosed with a velamentous insertion, your doctor may want to perform a c-section.
Epidemiology
- Velamentous insertion occurs in 1.1 percent of single-baby pregnancies and 8.7 percent of twin pregnancies. This type of insertion is more common earlier on in pregnancy. In cases of spontaneous abortion, velamentous cord insertion happens around 33 percent of the time when the pregnancy terminates between nine and 12 weeks. In pregnancies ending between 13 and 1…
Causes
- Other risk factors include having a two-lobed placenta, uterine anomalies, and the fetus having a single umbilical artery.
Function
- In addition to velamentous cord insertion, there are several different ways the umbilical cord can join with the placenta: